The Pope's Visit to Philadelphia - Impact on Traffic

[Zeffy]

It's not just I-295 either - I-95 from New Jersey all the way into Philadelphia the message is the same. Actually, some of the VMSes in the Philadelphia area "fade" in and out when cycling messages, which looked kind of cool, despite being a standard VMS (as opposed to the ones used on the New Jersey Turnpike where they can display anything they want).

You were there?  Damn!  I was there.  Got there at 9am, and the gates don't even open until 9:25am!

Here's the deal: You have 69,000 people arriving for a game.  The later you arrive, the more likely you're going to be caught in very heavy traffic with everyone else arriving later.  Leaving is the same deal - eventually, most people are going to be getting on the highway.  Same thing...unless the roads are widened to handle that amount of traffic for just a few days a year, there's going to be congestion, and lots of it. 

A lot of it has to do with familiarity of the parking lots and parking flow as well. 

Shame I didn't know you were coming.  I would've told you the lot I park in, and the reason I park in that lot.  It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to exit and be on the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Did you happen to see me by chance?    If you saw a 6'0 male with dark brown hair that was either in his eyes or being blown out of it by the wind/fans wearing a LeSean McCoy #25 home jersey, then you saw me. I probably described at least 2% of the crowd with that description...

But seriously, I was in section 234, along with my sister who wore a Tony Romo jersey... I was surprised some of the fans near us didn't eat her up.

I discussed it after the fact, and we should've taken a SEPTA train into the Linc instead of driving. The problem is we didn't know if/when any lines ran by Doylestown or New Hope, since we didn't want to drive to Trenton to catch the train.

[jeffandnicole]

DC is only closing some streets way downtown, it would appear.  Wonder if Phila. is doing so much because it is a weekend...?

The busy Ben Franklin Parkway (not to be confused with the Ben Franklin Bridge) is already shut down, and will remain closed all week.

Many roads will start to be closed later this week, and will remain closed Friday evening thru Monday around noontime.

Cars parked within a certain primiter have started to be towed, with the goal to tow all vehicles in that perimeter area by Wednesday.

So...suffice to say, it's not just because it's a weekend.  It's really 9 or 10 days, including 6 weekdays, where traffic and parking will be affected.

My understanding was that cars were allowed within the perimeter, but that once they leave they can't get back in. (As opposed to being towed.)

That was probably true two weeks ago. The towing of vehicles was a recent addition to the madness. But if a vehicle wasn't affected by the towing and is still within the no-entering zone, then what you said still applies.

Here's the most up-to-date info regarding traffic & transit for the next week: http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news/pope/&id=328453281&;

[PHLBOS]

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing here: 

A more realistic Philadelphia Papal Visit Travel Map

[jeffandnicole]

It's not just I-295 either - I-95 from New Jersey all the way into Philadelphia the message is the same. Actually, some of the VMSes in the Philadelphia area "fade" in and out when cycling messages, which looked kind of cool, despite being a standard VMS (as opposed to the ones used on the New Jersey Turnpike where they can display anything they want).

You were there?  Damn!  I was there.  Got there at 9am, and the gates don't even open until 9:25am!

Here's the deal: You have 69,000 people arriving for a game.  The later you arrive, the more likely you're going to be caught in very heavy traffic with everyone else arriving later.  Leaving is the same deal - eventually, most people are going to be getting on the highway.  Same thing...unless the roads are widened to handle that amount of traffic for just a few days a year, there's going to be congestion, and lots of it. 

A lot of it has to do with familiarity of the parking lots and parking flow as well. 

Shame I didn't know you were coming.  I would've told you the lot I park in, and the reason I park in that lot.  It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to exit and be on the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Did you happen to see me by chance?    If you saw a 6'0 male with dark brown hair that was either in his eyes or being blown out of it by the wind/fans wearing a LeSean McCoy #25 home jersey, then you saw me. I probably described at least 2% of the crowd with that description...

But seriously, I was in section 234, along with my sister who wore a Tony Romo jersey... I was surprised some of the fans near us didn't eat her up.

I discussed it after the fact, and we should've taken a SEPTA train into the Linc instead of driving. The problem is we didn't know if/when any lines ran by Doylestown or New Hope, since we didn't want to drive to Trenton to catch the train.

Oh yeah, yeah, I saw you! LOL

I'm in 214.  3 rows from the top.  I always joke I'm closer to I-95 than I am to the field! (It's not much of an exaggeration...I'm literally closer to the highway than I am of the closest point of the playing field!!!)

I always say the fans are basically the same fans that have been showing up for the past 10 or 20 years...they've just mellowed out over the years!  I don't recall seeing one fight at the game!  And there were plenty of Cowboys fans there.

Where did you end up parking?

The only mass transit train that will take you to the game would've been the Broad Street Subway line.  So no matter your choice, be it SEPTA Regional Rail or PATCO, you would have to see if it connects you to the subway.

[PHLBOS]

I discussed it after the fact, and we should've taken a SEPTA train into the Linc instead of driving. The problem is we didn't know if/when any lines ran by Doylestown or New Hope, since we didn't want to drive to Trenton to catch the train.

Sounds like your best bet would have been to take the West Trenton Regional Rail line (the West Trenton Station isn't too far from I-95 and Mercer Airport (TTN) and all West Trenton trains serve that station) to Suburban Station and then take the Broad Street Line from City Hall Station to the Sports Complex (AT&T Station).  One needs to walk a bit between Suburban and City Hall stations.

While the Broad Street subway trains run frequently (usually no more than every 15 minutes); the Regional Rail trains (excluding the Airport Line) run hourly on nights & weekends; so one would need to plan their travel time and coordinate train schedules accordingly.

[jakeroot]

At least you guys know where the Pope is going to be (for the most part). China's President Xi Jinping is visiting Seattle starting today through Thursday, and due to security concerns, his itinerary is kept private. WSDOT knows where he'll be so they can close whichever freeway he will be using, but they can't tell the general public. So the only way you can prepare is by not leaving your house.

This morning, when the president flew into Everett's Paine Field, they closed I-5 South just north of the field right before he landed, and didn't open it until the motorcade had made its way from the Boeing Freeway down I-5 for some distance. And this theme of closing freeways right before he uses them is something that will continue off and on for the next few days.

As an example of the shitty traffic, here's a shot from Northgate (north of Seattle) this morning. The express lanes were closed to prepare for President Jinping's motorcade. Traffic through there is usually utter shit, but the express lanes being closed off didn't help:

[odditude]

At least you guys know where the Pope is going to be (for the most part). China's President Xi Jinping is visiting Seattle starting today through Thursday, and due to security concerns, his itinerary is kept private. WSDOT knows where he'll be so they can close whichever freeway he will be using, but they can't tell the general public. So the only way you can prepare is by not leaving your house.

that's not horribly uncommon in Philly - anytime the President or VP are moving through town, there are rolling closures.

[jakeroot]

At least you guys know where the Pope is going to be (for the most part). China's President Xi Jinping is visiting Seattle starting today through Thursday, and due to security concerns, his itinerary is kept private. WSDOT knows where he'll be so they can close whichever freeway he will be using, but they can't tell the general public. So the only way you can prepare is by not leaving your house.

that's not horribly uncommon in Philly - anytime the President or VP are moving through town, there are rolling closures.

Yeah, but do you know where the President will be, or is it a surprise?

[Pete from Boston]

At least you guys know where the Pope is going to be (for the most part). China's President Xi Jinping is visiting Seattle starting today through Thursday, and due to security concerns, his itinerary is kept private. WSDOT knows where he'll be so they can close whichever freeway he will be using, but they can't tell the general public. So the only way you can prepare is by not leaving your house.

that's not horribly uncommon in Philly - anytime the President or VP are moving through town, there are rolling closures.

Yeah, but do you know where the President will be, or is it a surprise?

The President comes infrequently to Boston, generally to fund-raise, but often to New York.  I don't recall widespread detailed pre-announcement of his route, for obvious reaaons.

[Zeffy]

Oh yeah, yeah, I saw you! LOL

I'm in 214.  3 rows from the top.  I always joke I'm closer to I-95 than I am to the field! (It's not much of an exaggeration...I'm literally closer to the highway than I am of the closest point of the playing field!!!)

I always say the fans are basically the same fans that have been showing up for the past 10 or 20 years...they've just mellowed out over the years!  I don't recall seeing one fight at the game!  And there were plenty of Cowboys fans there.

Where did you end up parking?

The only mass transit train that will take you to the game would've been the Broad Street Subway line.  So no matter your choice, be it SEPTA Regional Rail or PATCO, you would have to see if it connects you to the subway.

We ended up parking in Lot T which is for Citizens Bank Park and not Lincoln Financial Field. It took us 80 minutes to complete a circle around the parking complexes because traffic was such a clusterfuck.

Also, damn you were close to me!! If it helps I wore black basketball shorts and looked like I was not even 18 years old (I get that quite a lot actually...). We probably saw each other - if we were that close - but I doubt we'd know it. 

Sounds like your best bet would have been to take the West Trenton Regional Rail line (the West Trenton Station isn't too far from I-95 and Mercer Airport (TTN) and all West Trenton trains serve that station) to Suburban Station and then take the Broad Street Line from City Hall Station to the Sports Complex (AT&T Station).  One needs to walk a bit between Suburban and City Hall stations.

While the Broad Street subway trains run frequently (usually no more than every 15 minutes); the Regional Rail trains (excluding the Airport Line) run hourly on nights & weekends; so one would need to plan their travel time and coordinate train schedules accordingly.

Yeah, I figured going to the West Trenton station was probably a good idea, but they insisted on driving. Next time I may consider that (of course, it if it's not a major game like Eagles vs. Cowboys, I doubt there will ever be that much traffic again...).

[AlexandriaVA]

It's not just a security issue either. Typically these state visits are quite brief and the visiting dignitary can't afford to waste time sitting in traffic. Protocol dictates that s/he be afforded unfettered road and airspace access to the areas where they are traveling. Imagine the embarrassment (and waste of taxpayer dollars for both countries) if a visiting head-of-state was stuck in a traffic jam.

If you're in Seattle, take it as a credit to your metropolitan area, in the sense that the head of state of an emerging world power chose to visit there. In contrast, I doubt he'd make his way to out-of-the-way places like Kentucky or western Indiana.

[jakeroot]

If you're in Seattle, take it as a credit to your metropolitan area, in the sense that the head of state of an emerging world power chose to visit there. In contrast, I doubt he'd make his way to out-of-the-way places like Kentucky or western Indiana.

Don't get me wrong -- I love the fact that he chose to visit Seattle. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma both are massive trading partners with China. I'm simply saying that traffic, no matter what the cause, is a headache. And the fact that you can't plan for it is fairly annoying. But I can certainly live with it. China is a big deal and they deserve to be comfortable throughout their stay here.

[AlexandriaVA]

If you're in Seattle, take it as a credit to your metropolitan area, in the sense that the head of state of an emerging world power chose to visit there. In contrast, I doubt he'd make his way to out-of-the-way places like Kentucky or western Indiana.

Don't get me wrong -- I love the fact that he chose to visit Seattle. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma both are massive trading partners with China. I'm simply saying that traffic, no matter what the cause, is a headache. And the fact that you can't plan for it is fairly annoying. But I can certainly live with it. China is a big deal and they deserve to be comfortable throughout their stay here.

As long as we're on the topic of China, at least you guys didn't suffer the infamous 10-day traffic jam they had back in 2010:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_National_Highway_110_traffic_jam

Many drivers were able to move their vehicles only 1 km (0.6 mi) per day

[Chris19001]

Yeah, I figured going to the West Trenton station was probably a good idea, but they insisted on driving. Next time I may consider that (of course, it if it's not a major game like Eagles vs. Cowboys, I doubt there will ever be that much traffic again...).

You would be figuring wrong.  With seperate stadiums for baseball, football, & hockey/basketball all within earshot of each other, there are times where events coincide and create traffic hell within the parking areas.  This happens most often with concerts or the circus selling out one venue.  In fact, I would expect a similar trafic occurance to happen this Sunday with the Pope.  Although the events at the sports complex have been suspended for the weekend, anyone who wants a cheap way into the city will probably consider parking at the stadiums and taking the BSL into Walnut/Locust.  I predict those parking areas will be JAMMED.
If I were in your shoes for future stadium events, I would consider how many people you're transporting, divide the stadium parking costs by the amount of people, then calculate how much it would cost to buy 2 subway tokens and round trip passes per person on the W Trenton line.  Economically, if you have more than 2 people, you'd probably save money by driving, but the frustration costs in leaving the area by car will probably just about even it out.
Personally, I go to a reasonable amount of stadium events, and I haven't driven down there in many years.  The BSL terminus at Fern Rock is about 25 minutes from my house up in Mont Co.  Tokens are about $2 a pop, and parking is free if you get there late in the day (somebody likely already paid the daily fee for the empty closer spots).

[jeffandnicole]

At least in this article, visitors are talking about how well organized the event is so far.

Oh, and they love our traffic.  The cars stop for pedestrians.  Clearly, these people are drugged and drunk when talking to reporters!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150923_Pilgrims_arrive_from_everywhere.html#disqus_thread

[jeffandnicole]

Oh yeah, yeah, I saw you! LOL

I'm in 214.  3 rows from the top.  I always joke I'm closer to I-95 than I am to the field! (It's not much of an exaggeration...I'm literally closer to the highway than I am of the closest point of the playing field!!!)

I always say the fans are basically the same fans that have been showing up for the past 10 or 20 years...they've just mellowed out over the years!  I don't recall seeing one fight at the game!  And there were plenty of Cowboys fans there.

Where did you end up parking?

The only mass transit train that will take you to the game would've been the Broad Street Subway line.  So no matter your choice, be it SEPTA Regional Rail or PATCO, you would have to see if it connects you to the subway.

We ended up parking in Lot T which is for Citizens Bank Park and not Lincoln Financial Field. It took us 80 minutes to complete a circle around the parking complexes because traffic was such a clusterfuck.

Also, damn you were close to me!! If it helps I wore black basketball shorts and looked like I was not even 18 years old (I get that quite a lot actually...). We probably saw each other - if we were that close - but I doubt we'd know it. 

Sounds like your best bet would have been to take the West Trenton Regional Rail line (the West Trenton Station isn't too far from I-95 and Mercer Airport (TTN) and all West Trenton trains serve that station) to Suburban Station and then take the Broad Street Line from City Hall Station to the Sports Complex (AT&T Station).  One needs to walk a bit between Suburban and City Hall stations.

While the Broad Street subway trains run frequently (usually no more than every 15 minutes); the Regional Rail trains (excluding the Airport Line) run hourly on nights & weekends; so one would need to plan their travel time and coordinate train schedules accordingly.

Yeah, I figured going to the West Trenton station was probably a good idea, but they insisted on driving. Next time I may consider that (of course, it if it's not a major game like Eagles vs. Cowboys, I doubt there will ever be that much traffic again...).

Traffic is like that for every game.  Like most NFL games, every Eagles game is sold out.  In fact, there hasn't been a sold-out Eagles game at the Linc ever.  So you will always have traffic issues like that at most games. The worst part for you, like I mentioned, was that you were unfamiliar with the traffic patterns and timing.  Get there 3 or 4 hours before kickoff, and you would've had very few if any problems with traffic and parking!

The closest we would've probably been was near that escalator on your side, as that's the only one for the East & South sides of the stadium (actually, you can walk around the entire upper level now with the connecting bridges, so I could take any escalator I wanted, but out of habit we always go in the same entrance and take the same escalator!).

[jeffandnicole]

At least you guys know where the Pope is going to be (for the most part). China's President Xi Jinping is visiting Seattle starting today through Thursday, and due to security concerns, his itinerary is kept private. WSDOT knows where he'll be so they can close whichever freeway he will be using, but they can't tell the general public. So the only way you can prepare is by not leaving your house.

that's not horribly uncommon in Philly - anytime the President or VP are moving through town, there are rolling closures.

Yeah, but do you know where the President will be, or is it a surprise?

The President comes infrequently to Boston, generally to fund-raise, but often to New York.  I don't recall widespread detailed pre-announcement of his route, for obvious reaaons.

Generally they do announce the roads that will be closed and the approximate times for the closures, although those announcements tend to be same day.  But at least they are announced, unlike what Jake is experiencing in Seattle.

Anytime any President is travelling, there are blockades, so it's not limited to any one city.

[PHLBOS]

Oh, and they love our traffic.  The cars stop for pedestrians.  Clearly, these people are drugged and drunk when talking to reporters!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150923_Pilgrims_arrive_from_everywhere.html#disqus_thread

Or were told, "The only way this interview will be televised would be if you state X, Y, Z, etc."  Personally, I would love to see the outtakes. 

"The parking and traffic sucks."

"CUT!"

"The people here are real a#@$*%es."

"CUT!  We can't any of this footage."

[1995hoo]

Well, I can only speak for our travel this morning, but the trip from home to Reagan Airport (via Uber) took less time than it would during a normal rush hour. I guess enough people took off that it helped. It's also apparently Yom Kippur, so people took off work for that as well, but that makes more of a difference on the Maryland side. 

[kkt]

Trade ya our President of China visit for your Pope visit...

[jemacedo9]

Oh, and they love our traffic.  The cars stop for pedestrians.  Clearly, these people are drugged and drunk when talking to reporters!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150923_Pilgrims_arrive_from_everywhere.html#disqus_thread

Or were told, "The only way this interview will be televised would be if you state X, Y, Z, etc."  Personally, I would love to see the outtakes. 

"The parking and traffic sucks."

"CUT!"

"The people here are real a#@$*%es."

"CUT!  We can't any of this footage."

THIS.  This this this. 

[noelbotevera]

I was considering going, but it ain't worth it. Three hours from here is ridiculous.

[MASTERNC]

At least in this article, visitors are talking about how well organized the event is so far.

Oh, and they love our traffic.  The cars stop for pedestrians.  Clearly, these people are drugged and drunk when talking to reporters!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150923_Pilgrims_arrive_from_everywhere.html#disqus_thread

I think that quote was for attendees from Colombia.  My guess is you have to say a prayer before crossing an urban road in that country, hence the comment.

[jeffandnicole]

A few signs on 295 - ok, barricades - that show NJDOT is ready, just in case.

At *some* exits along I-295, mostly those with direct or convenient links to Philadelphia, there are about 3 plastic barricades dismantled at the exit ramps in case closing the ramp is needed.  I noticed this at exits for Rt. 38, 73, 70 & 168 so far.  There were some additional Emergency Service Patrol vehicles spotted along my ride home yesterday and one last night about 10pm. Usually they only work from 4:30am to 8:30pm. 

There's also been some 'rumors' floating around the internet and Facebook.  One a friend sent yesterday, which was a photo of a Facebook post...conveniently without any identifying information cut from the photo:

WARNING!!!!!
I was at the Evesham Twp Meeting tonight.  The Chief of Police issued a WARNING for this weekend.  The State, depending on traffic conditions may be shutting down exits on the NJ Turnpike and Rt 295.  If you are on 295 or the Turnpike (South bound) when exits are closed, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT IN NJ, YOU will be FORCED to drive to Delaware.  This WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN BORDENTOWN AND THE STATE OF DELAWARE!...Best alternative?...Stay off the major highways.  He also stated VERY CLEARLY that law enforcement expects back roads to be clogged as well.....BEWARE...BE WARNED!  BE CAREFUL!

I tried calming my friend down, explaining that they wouldn't have any reason to shut down every exit.  And why would they only shut down Southbound exits, and not Northbound exits.  My friend stated that her neighbor was at the meeting.  I didn't even bother trying to ask why their neighbor would've gone to a town meeting 3 counties away. 

Another flyer apparently got passed around that someone posted on the internet.  While it included legit road closures, they exaggerated the list so that every intersection was listed, rather than just stretches of road.  And they exaggerated the times to show the road closures would start 6am Friday to Monday at 6pm.  The real key to the fakeness of this flyer it includes ramp closures at I-295/I-76/NJ 42.  The ramps are scheduled to be fully open all weekend.


Edited to change 'with any identifying information' to 'without'.

[Alps]

Unlikely any interchange would be shut down outside Tpk. 3 and 4 and I-295 at the major routes (30, 38, 70, 73, 168). Locals still have to get around this weekend, and NJDOT is sensitive to that.

I'm somewhat curious how it'll be in western Camden County tomorrow. But not enough to go there.